Senate sends new Russia sanctions bill to Trump’s desk

The US Senate has approved further sanctions against Russia, Iran and North Korea, and now the bipartisan bill goes to President Donald Trump’s desk, where it may be vetoed or signed into law. The vote was 98 to 2.

Leadership in the House and Senate agreed on the details of the sanctions bill late Wednesday, following the near unanimous vote in the House on Tuesday, 419 to 3. Senate passage sends the sanctions bill directly to Trump's desk, and lawmakers expressed mixed expectations on whether the president would sign it into law.

The new sanctions are a clear attempt by Congress to tie the hands of President Trump, who publicly said he wanted to improve relations with Russia, but as a foreign policy measure they are short-sighted and ineffective, retired US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Karen Kwiatkowski told RT.

“It is intended to damage that relationship [with Russia]. I think it’s important to see that this is a Congressional act intended to damage Mr. Trump and his ability to conduct foreign policy,” Kwiatkowski said.

“They’re certainly attempting to limit [Trump’s] powers, and I think anybody who has watched American politics for the past six or seven months understands the panic that is present in our Congress amongst the opposition party and certain members of his own party. They’re very frightened at his ability and desire to execute power, to use the power of that office,” Kwiatkowski said.

“Clearly, the Congress, the House and the Senate have overstepped their abilities to understand and influence foreign policy. They don’t understand the impact of sanctions by extending these sanctions to other, allied companies… That is the height of arrogance and, mostly, ignorance,” Kwiatkowski argued, saying that the voting revealed that only a handful of “independent thinkers” are present in the Congress.

Kwiatkowski believes Trump himself is against the new measures as he is aware that sanctions are “largely ineffective” and “not a smart way to run foreign policy.”

She added: “Historically, they have not worked. Historically, they have hurt the very people they’re intended to help.”